Automatic re-bar installer

ABSTRACT

This invention is an automatic re-bar installer for movable concrete placing and form pouring machines which in operation move on supporting rails and are in communication with a concrete form. The automatic re-bar installer of this invention includes a frame, bar supply mounted with the frame, bar holding and releasing device connected with the bar supply and a powering device operable with the bar holding and releasing device. More particularly, in operation the automatic re-bar installer deposits re-bars from the bar supply by means of the bar holding and releasing device into the concrete forms as the concrete placing and form pouring machine moves along the form in the pouring operation. Numerous devices are known in the prior art to dispense generally cylindrical bar like items singly from a storage device having the items parallel positioned therein. These prior art devices are not, however, adapted to handling long flexible bars without becoming jammed due to twisting of the bars among one another in the storage device. Also, these prior art devices are not adapted to dispense bars at substantially certain intervals while the device is being moved. In one preferred specific embodiment of the automatic re-bar installer of the invention, means is provided to dispense concrete re-bar pieces at substantially certain intervals along a concrete form. The automatic re-bar installer in the hereafter described preferred specific embodiment includes a frame and supply rack mountable on an apparatus for the placing and form pouring of concrete and having a means to drive a bar holding and releasing device operable from the forward motion of the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus.

United States Patent Jones [451 Dec. 10, 1974 AUTOMATIC RE-BAR INSTALLER [75] Inventor: Cordis W. Jones, Salina, Kans.

[73] Assignee: Hastings Dynameld Corporation, Hastings, Nebr.

[22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 236,209

abandoned.

[52] US. CL. 425/126, 404/100 [51] Int. Cl B28b 21/56 [58] Field of Search 425/123, 126; 94/39; 404/ 100 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,749,101 3/1930 Heltzel 94/39 X 3,083,621 4/1963 Woolley 94/39 3,334,559 8/1967 Taylor 94/39.

3,368,465 2/1968 Tonjes 94/39 3,401,611 9/1968 Schneider... 94/39 3,466,988 7 9/1969 Sharpe 94/39 Primary Examiner-Francis S. Husar Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John Widdowson ABSTRACT This invention is an automatic re-bar installer for movable concrete placing and form pouring machines which in operation move on supporting rails and are in communication with a concrete form. The automatic re-bar installer of this invention includes a frame, bar supply mounted with the frame, bar holding and releasing device connected with the bar supply and a powering device operable with the bar holding and releasing device. More particularly, in operation the automatic re-bar installer deposits re-bars from the bar supply by means of the bar holding and releasing device into the concrete forms .as the concrete placing and form pouring machine moves along the form in the pouring operation.

Numerous devices are known in the prior art to dispense generally cylindrical bar like items singly from a storage device having the items parallel positioned therein. These prior art devices are not, however, adapted to handling long flexible bars without becoming jammed due to twisting of the bars among one another in the-storage device. Also, these prior art devices are not adapted to dispense bars at substantially certain intervals while the device is being moved.

In one preferred specific embodiment of the automatic re-bar installer of the invention, means is provided to dispense concrete re-bar pieces at substantially certain intervals along a concrete form.

The automatic re-bar installer in the hereafter described preferred specific embodiment includes a frame and supply rack mountable on an apparatus for the placing and form pouring of concrete and having a means to drive a bar holding and releasing device operable from the forward motion of the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENWEWM 3.853.444

sum 10F 3 Lay Q Arrae/ver AUTOMATIC RE-BAR INSTALLER This is a continuation of application ser. no. 31,967, filed Apr. 27, 1970 now abandoned.

The concrete placing and form pouring apparatus supports the automatic re-bar installer on a support beam structure to move therewith on the normally elongated bed like forms. The bar holding and releasing device of the automatic re-bar installer has a plurality of disc members which when operably rotated remove a bar from the supply rack and drop same into the concrete form. The rotatable discs of the bar holding and releasing device are in operation driven indirectly from a wheel which is in contact with the rails alongside the concrete forms so the discs are rotated while the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus is in forward motion. The discs of the bar holding and releasing device have a slot therein to receive a bar when they are rotated in the normally forward direction.

The frame preferably supports the supply rack and extends transversely across the supporting structure of the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus and contains the bar holding and releasing device therein. The bar holding and releasing device is preferably driven from one end thereof preferably by a chain drive device mounted with the wheel.

One object of the automatic re-bar dropper of this invention-is to provide a device overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a means to place reinforcing bars transversely across continuous pouring type concrete form beds simultaneously as a concrete placing and form pouring apparatus moves along the concrete form.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a means to dispense long and .somewhat flexible bars from a supply rack one at a time.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide means to space re-bar members in concrete forms at substantially certain intervals.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the automatic rebar installer of this preferred specific embodiment of the invention, shown in solid lines, mounted on a concrete placing and form pouring apparatus positioned over a typical concrete form bed, with the form shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a view of the lower portion of the automatic re-bar installer taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the center portion of the automatic re-bar installer taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the bar holding and releasing device taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view of the intermediate chain drive system within the frame taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of the driven side of the automatic re-bar installer taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a view of the chain drive system taken on line 77 of FIG. 1.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new automatic rebar installer of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts i and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, the automatic re-bar installer of this invention, generally indicated at 10, is shown mounted with a concrete placing and form pouring apparatus, generally indicated at 12, which is positioned over a typical bed type concrete form 14 having suppporting rails 16 alongside.

The concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12 includes means to move longitudinally with the concrete forms 14 and supported on the rails 16. Also, the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12 includes means, not illustrated in the drawings, to dispense the concrete 13 to the form 14 and compact same in a continuous operation. The automatic re-bar installer 10 in the preferred specific embodiment of this invention includes a bar holding and supply rack 20 mounted on a frame structure 22 containing the bar holding and releasing device 24 which is powered through the drive device 26 by a contacting wheel 28. The frame 22 extends transversely between the supporting structure beam members 29 of the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12 and is mounted therewith. The bar holding rack 20 is mounted on top of the frame structure 22 and extends thereacross; it has means to hold bars in position, feed them to the bar holding and releasing device 24 and means to hold an additional supply of bars 30. The drive device 26 is coupled with one'end of the bar holding and releasing device 24 normally operable torotate same at a substantially certain rate in relation to the contacting wheel 28.

In a typical and conventional continuous pouring type concrete form, indicated at 14, the transverse reinforcing bars 30 are placed across the form and longitudinal reinforcing bars 32 are suspended through the troughs 34 of the form 14. The longitudinal reinforcing bars 32 are placed before the concrete is poured whereas the transverse bars 30 are placed by automatic re-bar installer 10 simultaneously with the pouring of the concrete 13. When the bars 30 are dropped from the automatic re-bar installer they are preferably moved beneath the surface of the concrete 13 by the vibrating compaction device of the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12. I

The frame structure 22 of the invention is an open and elongated rectangular-box like member with sides 34 and 36 and end members 38 and 40 and having an open top and bottom. The frame structure 22 mounts with the supporting beam members 29 of the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12 and extendsthereacross on the upper portion 42 and between the beam members 29 on the lower portion 44. The end portions of the upper frame portion 42 extend over the beam members 29 and are mounted therewith at 44. Mounted inside the lower portion 44 of the frame 22 is the bar holding and releasing device 24 including a shaft 46 extending substantially across the lower frame portion .44 with preferably threebar moving discs 48 mounted thereon and spaced across the lower portion 44. The discs 48 are circular and have preferablytwo notches 49 on opposite sides thereof adapted to receive the hold and release one bar. The discs 48 are mounted between bar guides 50 and 52 which are mounted with the frame 22. The bar guides 50 and 52 are adapted to guide the bars 30 in single line fashion in a slot 51 to a position vertically above the discs 48 so when the disc 48 is rotated one bar 54 is taken into the notch 49 and held against the bar guide 50 until the disc 48 rotates to position with notch 49 in the lower position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, then the bar 54 drops from the disc 48. Both bar guides 50 and 52 have an opening tapered top portion between them from the slot 51 to guide bars 30 as they move from the rack into a single line. The bar guide 50 has a circular edge portion adjacent the disc 48 in combination with the disc 48 hold a bar 54 as the disc 48 rotates in operation. The bar guide 50 preferably consists of two side members with a guide block member 56 therebetween in the lower portion thereof around the circular portion thereof operable to additionally support a bar 54 when passing thereby. The other bar guide 52 preferably has a similar upper portion to 50 and has a lower portion adapted to guide a bar 54 directlyinto the notch 49 and adapted to mount a bearing member 58 supporting the shaft 46. Also should the disc 48 be rotated in the opposite than normal direction, it in combination with the bar guide 52 are adapted to prevent bars from being released by preventing a bar 54 to enter and remain in the notch 49; this is done by forcing the bar from the notch 49 against the bar guide'52.

The bars are held above the frame 22 in the supply rack 20 which includes support members 60 mounted over the end portions of the upper frame portion 42 and span guide members 62 between the end members 60. The end members 60 have guide members 64 which along with the span guide members 62 are sufficiently rigid and are positioned to hold the bars 30 generally in a single line but not closely enough to bind or restrict their downward movement. The lower portion 61 of the supply rack 20 is vertically above the frame 22 and the upper portion thereof, indicated at 63, is inclined rearward relative normal movement of the apparatus 12. The guide members 62 are positioned over the bar guides 50 and, 52 and have support members 66 transverse across the center portion thereof, support members 68 on the upper ends thereof and support members 69 on the lower portion thereof, all mounted between the end members 60. The lowest of the span guide members 62'has an open tapered surface 70 and extends further than the other guide members 62 adapted to guide the bars 30 as they are loaded into the slot 51. Additionally, the rack 20 is preferably mounted with an additional bar storage rack 72 adapted to hold an additional stock of bars 30. The storage rack 72 is mounted with the guide members 62 and rack end members 60, extending therefrom holding the bars 30 v on a horizontal support member 74 held by brace member 76 above the inclined upper portion 63 of the bar holding rack 20.

The bar holding and releasing device shaft 46 is rotated in operation from the drive device 26. The drive device 26 of this preferred specific embodiment includes a rotatable housing 80 enclosing same mounted with the contact wheel 28 and the upper portion 42 of the frame 22 and containing a chain drive device. In operation the contact wheel 28 is moved into position to contact the rails 16 by rotation of the housing 80. The housing 80 has a hand operable spring loaded hold down device, generally indicated at 82, to assure the contact wheel 28 is held in contact with the rails 16 and has a removable portion thereof, indicated at 81. When not in operation the housing can be rotated to remove the contact wheel 28 from the rail 16 by releasing the holding device 82. The chain drive of the drive device includes a sprocket 84 mounted on a shaft 86 with the contact wheel 28 operable to rotate with same and connected by a chain 90, having a tension and idler sprocket 91, with an intermediate shaft 92 and sprocket 94. The intermediate shaft 92 extends through the upper portion of the housing and passes into the end 40 of the frame 22 and has a sprocket 96 mounted therein. The bar holding and releasing shaft 96 has sprocket 98 mounted thereon one end adapted to be rotated by the intermediate shaft 92 via chain 100. All the shafts 46, 86 and 92 are preferably supported by bearings, as shown in the drawings, to freely rotate. The intermediate sprockets 96 and 98 are preferably contained in the end portion of the frame 22 for protection and safety. The rate at which the bar holding and releasing shaft 46 can rotate relative to the contact wheel 28 depends upon the sizes of the sprockets 84, 94, 96 and 98 and upon the diameter of the counter wheel 28. It is preferred that in practice the sprockets 84 and 94 be changed in size to change the relative rates of the contact wheel 28 and the shaft46 because of their easy accessibility by removal of the housing portion 81. However, the other sprockets 96 and 98 can also be changed in size to alter the relative rotating rates of the wheel 28 and shaft 46. Changing the relative rate of rotation between the contact wheel 28 and the shaft 46 changes the distance with which the bars 30 are positioned relative one another in the concrete form 14. In the preferred operation the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12 moves along the rails 16 with the contact wheel 28 touching and rolling with a rail 16 which in turn rotates the shaft 46 of the bar holding and releasing device 24 that drops the bars 30 onto the freshly poured concrete 13. The spacing between the bars 30 depends upon the ratio of the driving device 26 only and not on the velocity of the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12. In the preferred pouring operation one person may be necessary to load the rack 20 with bars as the concrete placing and form pouring apparatus 12 moves if the quantity of bars 30 needed exceeds the quantity carried in the supply slot 51.

In the use of the automatic re-bar installer 10 of this invention, it is seen that same provides an efficient, accurate and easy means to place reinforcing bars 30 in conventional bed type concrete forms 14. The inven tion allows one to place the bars 30 simultaneously with the pouring operation which is desirable in reducing the labor required in the pouring operation. Also, the invention allows the bars 30 to be accurately spaced at a substantially certain distance relative one another.

As will become apparent from the foregoing description of the applicants automatic re-bar installer, relatively efficient and labor reducing means has been provided to place reinforcing bars transversely in conven-' tional continuous pouring type concrete forms. The apparatus is simple to use, saves much hand labor previously associated with reinforcing bar installation and reduces the time required making of concrete structures.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim: 1. In a movable machine for the placing of concrete 7 and form pouring thereof having a supporting structure movably mounted in operation and in communication with a concrete form having rails therebeside supporting said machine, in combination therein and therewith an automatic re-bar installer for placing reinforcement bars in the concrete comprising:

a. a frame means mounted on said machine transverse said supporting structure and communicate with said concrete forms,

b. a bar supply means mounted on said frame means and having a slotted means to hold a quantity of said bars, and having a vertical portion in alignment with a guide means and a disc member and an upper, outwardly inclined top section to receive and direct reinforcement bars therewith,

. a bar holding and releasing means operably connected to said bar supply means and having said disc member rotatable and mounted on a shaft and having a notch in the periphery thereof to receive one of the bars from said slotted means, said disc member mounted between vertically disposed and spaced guide members of said guide means forming a slot in communicatin with the slot .in said slotted means, one of said guide members having an arcuate edge portion adjacent said disc member to in combination with said disc member hold and guide a bar as said disc member rotates to deliver said bar, and the other of said guide members having a portion to in combination with said disc member and said notch therein upon rotation of said disc in the other direction prevent a bar from entering and remaining in said notch by forcing the bar from said notch against the bar guide, and

d. a powering means operably connected to said bar holding and releasing means and having rotatable a wheel member operably connectable with one of said rails and having a primary driving means operable with a secondary driving means to rotate said shaft and disc member at a predetermined certain rate relative to said wheel member, and said primary driving means including a second shaft, at least one first sprocket means and at least one second sprocket means with said first sprocket means connected to said wheel menber,'and said second sprocket means connected to said second shaft, a chain member engaging said first and said second sprocket means in order that said first sprocket means can drive said second sprocket means, said second driving means including at least two sprockets, one of said two sprockets connected to said second shaft, and the second of said two sprockets connected to said first-named shaft, and a second chain member engaging said first and said second sprocket so that said first sprocket can drive said second sprocket, said re-bar installer in operation depositing re-bars into said forms from said bar supply means as same are released therefrom by said bar holding and releasing means upon the movement of said machine along said form on said rails. 2. The automatic re-bar installer as described in claim 1, wherein, said bar supply means additionally includes a rack means mounted therewith adapted to hold said bars.

3. The automatic re-bar installer as described in claim 2, wherein:

a. said frame means is mounted substantially across said supporting structure, 1

b. said bar supply means and said slotted means extend substantially across said frame means and has said bar supply means inclined from the vertical, said slotted means is mounted to position said bars with said guide means,

c. said powering means has housing means rotatably mounted with one end of said frame means; mounting said wheel member and containing said primary driving means and has a holding means operably to retain said wheel member in contact with said rail, and

(1. said holding means being a spring loaded lever to force said wheel member into contact with said rail.

4. The automatic re-bar installer as described in claim 3, wherein, said bar supply means is upwardly inclined approximately 30 from the horizontal, to provide for ease of movement and separation of the reinforcement bars, and said inclination provides for stacking but lessens the weight of the reinforcement bars on said disc member for efficiency in operation. 

1. In a movable machine for the placing of concrete and form pouring thereof having a supporting structure movably mounted in operation and in communication with a concrete form having rails therebeside supporting said machine, in combination therein and therewith an automatic re-bar installer for placing reinforcement bars in the concrete comprising: a. a frame means mounted on said machine transverse said supporting structure and communicate with said concrete forms, b. a bar supply means mounted on said frame means and having a slotted means to hold a quantity of said bars, and having a vertical portion in alignment with a guide means and a disc member and an upper, outwardly inclined top section to receive and direct reinforcement bars therewith, c. a bar holding and releasing means operably connected to said bar supply means and having said disc member rotatable and mounted on a shaft and having a notch in the periphery thereof to receive one of the bars from said slotted means, said disc member mounted between vertically disposed and spaced guide members of said guide means forming a slot in communicatin with the slot in said slotted means, one of said guide members having an arcuate edge portion adjacent said disc member to in combination with said disc member hold and guide a bar as said disc member rotates to deliver said bar, and the other of said guide members having a portion to in combination with said disc member and said notch therein upon rotation of said disc in the other direction prevent a bar from entering and remaining in said notch by forcing the bar from said notch against the bar guide, and d. a powering means operably connected to said bar holding and releasing means and having rotatable a wheel member operably connectable with one of said rails and having a primary driving means operable with a secondary driving means to rotate said shaft and disc member at a predetermined certain rate relative to said wheel member, and said primary driving means including a second shaft, at least one first sprocket means and at least one second sprocket means with said first sprocket means connected to said wheel menber, and said second sprocket means connected to said second shaft, a chain member engaging said first and said second sprocket means in order that said first sprocket means can drive said second sprocket means, said second driving means including at least two sprockets, one of said two sprockets connected to said second shaft, and the second of said two sprockets connected to said first-named shaft, and a second chain member engaging said first and said second sprocket so that said first sprocket can drive said second sprocket, said re-bar installer in operation depositing re-bars into said forms from said bar supply means as same are released therefrom by said bar holding and releasing means upon the movement of said machine along said form on said rails.
 2. The automatic re-bar installer as described in claim 1, wherein, said bar supply means additionally includes a rack means mounted therewith adapted to hold said bars.
 3. The automatic re-bar installer as described in claim 2, wherein: a. said frame means is mounted substantially across said supporting structure, b. said bar supply means and said slotted means extend substantially across said frame means and has said bar supply means inclined from the vertical, said slotted means is mounted to position said bars with said guide means, c. said powering means has housing means rotatably mounted with one end of said frame means; mounting said wheel member and containing said primary driving means and has a holding means operably to retain said wheel member in contact with said rail, and d. said holding means being a spring loaded lever to force said wheel member into contact with said rail.
 4. The automatic re-bar installer as described in claim 3, wherein, said bar supply means is upwardly inclined approximately 30* from the horizontal, to provide for ease of movement and separation of the reinforcement bars, and said inclination provides for stacking but lessens the weight of the reinforcement bars on said disc member for efficiency in operation. 